Digital Commons Network^™

Ido1 Is An Integral Mediator Of Inflammatory Neovascularization., Arpita Mondal, Courtney Smith, James B. Duhadaway, Erika Sutanto-Ward, George C. Prendergast, Arturo Bravo-Nuevo, Alexander J. Muller

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

The immune tolerogenic effects of IDO1 (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1) have been well documented and genetic studies in mice have clearly established the significance of IDO1 in tumor promotion. Dichotomously, the primary inducer of IDO1, the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ (interferon-γ), is a key mediator of immune-based tumor suppression. One means by which IFNγ can exert an anti-cancer effect is by decreasing tumor neovascularization. We speculated that IDO1 might contribute to cancer promotion by countering this anti-neovascular effect of IFNγ, possibly through IDO1-potentiated elevation of the pro-tumorigenic inflammatory cytokine IL6 (interleukin-6). In this study, we investigated how genetic loss of IDO1 affects …

"Our Door Is Always Open": Aligning Literacy Learningpractices In Writing Programs And Residential Learningcommunities, Julia Voss

English

Writing studies has considered college students' literacy development as a chronological progression and as influenced by their off-campus connections to various cultural and professional communities. This project considers students' literacy development across disciplines and university activity systems in which they're simultaneously involved to look at the (missed) opportunities for fostering transfer across writing courses and residential learning communities as parallel—but rarely coordinated—high-impact practices. Rather than calling for the development of additional programs, I argue for building/strengthening connections between these existing programs by highlighting shared learning outcomes focused on literacy skills development and learning how to learn.

2016 December Newsletter, Nancy Rockey

Human Subject Research Archive

No abstract provided.

Presence Of Bacterial Microbiome And Incidence Of Infection In Chagas Disease Vectors Triatoma Dimidiata, December 2016, Amber Domako

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Chagas disease is a condition caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Costa Rica, it is spread by one species of kissing bug, Triatoma dimidiata. Recent studies have concluded that the microbiomes of insect disease vectors play a role in the insects’ transmission of diseases. My study examines the relationship between the number of individual bacteria morphospecies found in the microbiome of each T. dimidiata and whether that insect was a Chagas disease carrier. With this data, I analyzed the correlation between the presence of the trypanosome, or not, and the microbiome of the insect. I collected Chagas bugs from …

Volatile Compounds And Microbiota: Antibacterial Properties In Traditional Preparation Methods Of Medicinal Herb Neurolaena Lobata (Asteraceae), December 2016, Nina Djukic

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

I assessed the differential effectiveness of traditional herbal preparation methods of medicinal herb gavilana (Neurolaena lobata) on an assay of four bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus, Shigella sp. and Salmonella sp.) known to cause food poisoning symptoms in humans. Medicinal plants are used both traditionally at home in many cultures and in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Their medicinal properties often come from their secondary compounds, chemicals that play a role in their ecophysiology and primarily defend them from herbivory. I prepared three types of Neurolaena lobata extracts - an oil, an alcohol, and a tea - and assessed the zones …

Ectoparasite Abundance And Diversity On Farm Animals In Monteverde And San Luis Along An Elevation Gradient, December 2016, Sarah Callahan

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Abundance and diversity of arthropods are largely dependent on climate. Elevation gradients provide different microclimates that can support a unique number and variety of species. In order to test the effect of elevation on abundance and diversity of arthropod ectoparasites, I collected samples on four different farms: Life Monteverde and Benito Guindon’s farm in Monteverde at about 1,800 m, and Lelo Mata’s farm and Tim Sayles’ farm in San Luis around 700 m. At each elevation, I compared abundance and diversity of ectoparasites on dogs and cattle. I found a presence of Ctenocephalides and Pulex fleas on dogs, and 22 …

How Water Quality Changes As It Passes Through Life Monteverde, December 2016, Stephanie Vogt

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Life Monteverde is a 17 hectare coffee farm in Monteverde, Costa Rica. To irrigate their garden and to provide water for their small amount of livestock, they divert water from a nearby stream that begins at a spring about a kilometer uphill from the farm. The farm has a system to filter the water it uses from the stream before returning it to the watershed in an effort to return it in better quality than when the water was diverted. I studied the use of this water over seven study sites as it flowed through the farm. Twice a day …

Development Of Fault Tolerant Adaptive Control Laws For Aerospace Systems, Andres E. Perez Rocha

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The main topic of this dissertation is the design, development and implementation of intelligent adaptive control techniques designed to maintain healthy performance of aerospace systems subjected to malfunctions, external parameter changes and/or unmodeled dynamics. The dissertation is focused on the development of novel adaptive control configurations that rely on non-linear functions that appear in the immune system of living organisms as main source of adaptation. One of the main goals of this dissertation is to demonstrate that these novel adaptive control architectures are able to improve overall performance and protect the system while reducing control effort and maintaining adequate operation …

Investigating The Impact Of Green Exercise On Population Health And Well-Being In A Small Community In Ireland:A Novel Approach Using A Natural Laboratory Ecosystem., Nollaig O'Sullivan, Aoife Donnelly, Tadhg Macintyre, Giles Warrington

Articles

Green exercise is defined as undertaking physical activity whilst being directly exposed to nature (Pretty et al., 2005; 2007). Pretty et al. (2003) were among the first wave of researchers to investigate the synergistic benefits of incorporating physical activity and exposure to the natural environment to produce positive psychological affect. Over the past decade, investigations into the possible additive effects on well-being of green exercise and how it can be used as an influential tool to help combat the rising rate of both physical inactivity and non –communicable disease has gained prominence in scientific literature. However, there is still a …

Effect Of A Yogurt Intervention On Adiposity And Metabolic Outcomes In Women, Eryn N. Boyet

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Over 40% of women in the United States are obese. The Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research focuses on “ways to hasten the translation of research evidence from discovery to intervention.” The Strategic Plan also calls on investigators to look at influential points in the lifespan which may affect obesity. Few interventional studies on obesity in women during the perimenopausal time period have been completed. Research in broader populations suggests increased dairy, particularly full-fat products, may decrease central adiposity and improve metabolic indicators of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dairy …

Three Empirical Investigations Into The Logic Of Evaluation And Valuing Practices, Satoshi Ozeki

Dissertations

This three-paper dissertation investigates the logic of evaluation proposed by Michael Scriven using two different methods of inquiry: content analysis and a survey method. Scriven’s logic of evaluation is one of the central concepts in evaluation, but has not been empirically investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this three-paper dissertation is to accumulate empirical knowledge on Scriven’s logic of evaluation to investigate the extent to which evaluators follow his logic and their perceptions of and familiarity with his logic. Furthermore, this dissertation aims to explore valuing practices in terms of Scriven’s logic of evaluation. Scriven’s logic of evaluation is important because …

Emotional Labor: Surface Acting A Better Emotional Regulation Strategy For Dealers?, James Luverne Cox

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The performing of emotional regulation in the workplace, or emotional labor, has long been researched by scholars. The conclusion that most reached was that individuals performing this regulation were typically better off by changing their emotions felt to their emotions displayed, or what is termed as “deep acting”, rather than “surface acting”, or faking the emotion. This paper will further explore the thoughts behind this argument and propose that dealers that use deep acting are, in fact, more likely to experience emotional burnout due to the inability to constantly change inner emotional states. Additionally, the paper will also seek to …

Avoiding Discrimination And Filtering Of Qualified Candidates By Ats Software, Katarina Drucker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this research paper will be to demonstrate the flaws in present-day hiring systems that may digitally eliminate or discriminate against qualified candidates.

Evaluating The Impact Of A Smoking Ban In Las Vegas Casino Resorts, Emi K. Sakevich

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Worldwide, the smoking population decreases, leaving hospitality venues to decide how a change in policy affects their revenues. In spite of the ban, bars, pubs, and restaurants in countries with a smoking ban report a consistent level of revenue. Within the United States, there are varying degrees of a smoking ban, with minimal effect on revenue. In Nevada, the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act’s commencement coincided with the Great Recession, skewing hospitality revenue numbers as tourism dwindled. Behaviorally, nonsmokers are more likely to avoid areas with smoke, whereas smokers are not as affected by nonsmoking areas. Casinos in Las Vegas …

Vulnerability Analysis And Security Framework For Zigbee Communication In Iot, Charbel Azzi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Securing IoT (Internet of Things) systems in general, regardless of the communication technology used, has been the concern of many researchers and private companies. As for ZigBee security concerns, much research and many experiments have been conducted to better predict the nature of potential security threats. In this research we are addressing several ZigBee vulnerabilities by performing first hand experiments and attack simulations on ZigBee protocol. This will allow us to better understand the security issues surveyed and find ways to mitigate them. Based on the attack simulations performed and the survey conducted, we have developed a ZigBee IoT framework …

Nursing Students’ Nonacademic Barriers To Success On High Stakes Exams, Jennifer Bussen Bussen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Every nursing program wants its graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN licensure examination the first time they take it. For those who fail, entry into practice is delayed until they can pass the NCLEX-RN. The nursing programs that graduated students who fail may experience a loss of reputation, decreased numbers of potential applicants, and, ultimately, state board of nursing sanctions. In an effort to determine which students are likely to be successful in taking the NCLEX-RN, many programs have turned to end-of-program predictor exams such as the Health Education System Inc. (HESI) exit examination (E2) (Lauer & Yoho, 2013; Nibert & …

Structuring A Risk-Based Bioassay Program For Uranium Usage In University Laboratories, Johnne' Talia Dawson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Bioassay programs are integral in a radiation safety program. They are used as a method of determining whether individuals working with radioactive material have been exposed and have received a resulting dose. For radionuclides that are not found in nature, determining an exposure is straightforward. However, for a naturally occurring radionuclide like uranium, it is not as straightforward to determine whether a dose is the result of an occupational exposure. The purpose of this project is to address this issue within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s (UNLV) bioassay program. This project consisted of two components that studied the effectiveness …

Self-Efficacy In Situation Background Assessment And Recommendation Communication Using Information Technology In Baccalaureate Nursing, Kelly Etcheberry Espinoza

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Strong communication skills are essential in establishing a foundation for safe delivery of care. A report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled: To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System estimated 44,000 to 98,000 deaths occur due to medical errors annually. Communication failure was found to be the root cause in 70% of these cases of medical error. Several studies also indicate communication issues still represent up to 80% of errors and sentinel events in hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission. The IOM's report indicate improving communication in the healthcare setting is essential in reducing medical errors.

In …

An Emg-Based Patient Monitoring System Using Zynq Soc Device, Farhad Fallahlalehzari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis describes the design, development, and testing of an EMG-based patient monitoring system using the Zynq device. Zynq is a system on chip device designed by Xilinx which consists of an ARM dual cortex-A9 processor as well as an FPGA integrated into one chip. This work also analyzes the performance of image-processing algorithms on this system and compares that performance to more traditional PC-based systems. Image processing algorithms, such as Sobel edge detection, dilation and erosion, could be used in conjunction with a camera for the patient monitoring purposes. These algorithms often perform sub-optimally on processors because of their …

Efficient Strategies For Playing The Horn, Jon Allan Holloway

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In their pursuit of becoming accomplished performers, horn players spend a great deal of time studying proper brass playing techniques from the great pedagogues. The modern horn is a fairly young instrument (less than two hundred years old) and the most efficient pedagogical approach is still evolving. Because of this, horn players spend a great deal of time studying proper brass playing techniques from the great pedagogues. Books by Philip Farkas, Arnold Jacobs, Raphael Mendez, and more have many theories and exercises on how to breathe, the best way to perfect embouchure development, performance techniques, and more.

Modern pedagogues have …

The Effects Of Orthodontic Appliance Base Plate Material, Pmma, Infused With Silver And A Novel Antibacterial Compound On Biofilm Formation, Ryan D. Jolley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Retention is required in the majority of orthodontic patients throughout the remainder of their life. The traditional Hawley style retainer is still considered by many orthodontic professionals to be the gold standard in retention appliances. The orthodontic population, in general, is at a higher risk for caries due to plaque accumulation from poor diet, suboptimal oral hygiene, and often a lack of motivation. A Hawley retainer that reduces caries-causing oral microbes could improve oral health and be very beneficial to the post-orthodontic patient. Developing methods to safely include antibacterial products within the Hawley retainer’s base plate material could help effect …

Oral Microbial Burden Of Periodontal Pathogens Among Orthodontic Patients, David Jolley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objectives

Many research studies involving orthodontic patients have a natural inclination to focus on changes in levels of cariogenic pathogens after bracket placement, and very few studies examine the role of changes of periodontal pathogens – particularly among adult patients. Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that increased levels of a specific periodontal pathogen, Fusobacterium nucleatum, may elevate risk for development of colon cancer in adults through direct pathways. Based upon this new evidence, the objective of the current study was to screen saliva samples taken from orthodontic patients to determine the prevalence of periodontal pathogens, including F. Nucleatum, T. denticola, and …

A World Of Warning: Exploring U.S. Department Of State Travel Warnings And Alerts, Ryan Daniel Larsen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts are documents issued by the United States Department of State to inform U.S. citizens traveling to other countries about the safety conditions of the desired destination. Travel Warnings are created for protracted conditions while Travel Alerts are meant for temporary circumstances. Scant research exists about official State Department travel advice, and there is an absence of knowledge about its components. This qualitative study seeks to answer the questions, what is the nature of State Department Travel Warnings and Alerts and what is their function? This study explores and seeks to describe the nature of Travel …

School Connectedness: Comparing Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders To Their General Education Peers, Robert Jordon Marsh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

School connectedness is the extent to which a student feels that adults and peers on their school campus care about their behavioral and academic success as well as their overall wellbeing. School connectedness is comprised of four factors: (a) bonding, (b) attachment, (c) engagement, and (d) climate. Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) may experience difficulty with developing high levels of school connectedness, which may lead to engagement in health-risk behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of school connectedness of students with EBD and compare them to the levels of their general education peers. …

Globalization And The Rise Of Militant Islamic Social Movement Organizations: The Case Of Uamsho (Awakening) Group In Zanzibar., Deogratius Mshigeni

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation set out to explore how specific aspects of globalization affect the growth and development of particular militant neo-fundamentalist social movements and in what ways globalization affect the resources and collective identity of these movements. To examine this, I conducted ethnographic and archival research and in-depth interviews with 40 activists in the UAMSHO (AWAKENING) group in Zanzibar, which is associated with the rise of violent activities since the first multiparty elections, held in 1995. Most of these activities have been associated with the UAMSHO (AWAKENING) group, that adheres to strict neo-fundamentalist views of Islam, and which calls for Zanzibar …

Occurrence And Proliferation Of Antibiotics And Antibiotic Resistance In Wastewater Treatment Plants, Majid Neyestani

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Solids retention time (SRT) is one of the most important factors in designing and operating activated sludge systems for biological wastewater treatment. Longer SRTs have been shown to alter the structure and function of microbial communities, thereby leading to improved treatment efficacy with respect to bulk and trace organics, nutrient removal, and membrane fouling. However, research has also shown that longer SRTs lead to increased prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, perhaps due to increased exposure to antibiotics present in influent wastewater. The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in microbial community structure in a laboratory-scale activated sludge system …

Radiation Therapy And Dosing Material Transport Methodology, Robert O'Brien

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A technique is examined here that utilizes high energy beta decays from a short lived radioisotope to treat medical conditions such as shallow cancerous lesions. A major benefit of beta particle interaction in tissue is a fixed penetration depth for the charged particle, with dose limited to the ultimate range of the beta particle. This method improves on some current techniques of radioactive brachytherapy, where "seeds" are placed inside patients through temporary or permanent implantation in order to kill cancerous cells or inhibit growth of tissue. The use of low energy gamma-rays is the most common method of treatment currently …

An Investigation Of The Testing Effect On Motor Learning, Aaron Leonard Pauls

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Optimization of learning processes is the goal many educators strive to achieve with their students. One of the potential methods used towards optimizing this process is what’s known as the testing effect. The testing effect is the improved performance on a retention test as a result of prior testing during some period of practice. Previously, the testing effect was investigated using mostly cognitive tasks such as the learning of a number of words. In this paper, we examine the impact the testing effect has on learning the motor skill of putting. The study used a 2 x 2 mixed design, …

The Intergenerational Effects Of Parental Divorce On Young Adult Relationships, Skyler William Roper

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Due to the current high rates of divorce, many young adults have experienced the effects of parental divorce. Although a variety of research has investigated both the positive and negative implications of divorce for individuals, relatively little research has looked at the relationship effects of parental divorce. Yet divorce likely influences both parent-child relationships (especially with a non-custodial parent) and young adult romantic relationships. The purpose of this study was to explore more fully how parental divorce affects young adult relationships by investigating the relationship between divorce and parent-child relationship quality, perceived comfort within close relationships (i.e., attachment), romantic relationship …

Bursting The Backpacker Bubble: Exploring Backpacking Ideology, Practices, And Contradictions, Mark J. Salvaggio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this dissertation, I discuss the growing development of international backpacking in Central America. I focus on backpackers because they are a significant, yet understudied and undertheorized, part of the newly mobile world. Drawing from more than 12 months of ethnographic data collected in Central America, I explore backpacking as a youth subculture. I used a subcultural framework to explain backpacking ideology, practices, and contradictions. Understanding backpacking as a youth subculture tells us a lot about the myths and realities of 21st century adventure in the context of global mobility, globalization, and economic changes in international tourism that shape what …